After today’s class, write at least 250 words summarizing your reading of Bruce Mazlish’s “The Fourth Discontinuity” and our discussion of it during lecture. Copy-and-paste your writing into a comment made to this blog post. As you write today’s assignment and those that follow, please include connections that you might make to things that you’ve encountered in your own experiences and education. Mazlish discusses the work of a number of important intellectual figures, which might relate to other things that you’re interested in or know about. Write about those connections. N.B. Connecting new information to things that you already know strengthens your memory of the new information and it begins turning information into actionable knowledge and leads the way to insightful wisdom.
Some links related to today’s lesson:
Professor Emeritus Bruce Mazlish Obituary, http://news.mit.edu/2016/professor-emeritus-bruce-mazlish-dies-1206
Arnold J. Toynbee, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_J._Toynbee
DIKW pyramid, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIKW_pyramid
Bruce Mazlish âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ has a different look in the language and technology. He uses different ways of looking into this world by seeing how different people view this place. For example, he talks about Darwinism and Nicholas Wade is one of them that reference Darwin when it comes to making a connection to people and animals. Nicholas Wade was another person who uses natural selection or sexual selection that makes the language more effective because we pick the type of language and technology we can understand. However, Bruce is using philosophy to help people understand that the world is more than just know the language and technology we are using. One of the philosophers is talks about is Rene Descartes who is a French philosopher who proposed dualism as a theory of mind. The theory of mind is to help people understand that we’re using our sensation, memory, or imagination. The way Bruce is relating this to the language by comparing these things to animals and human. Animals use their sensation as the language to help them recognize who their owner is and who are just strangers. That is a sign of communication because they are recognizing your scent. Maybe you do not believe it but it is a way of animals communicating with human beings because they are using a different way of letting you know it is okay to pet them or that you are not a threat to their owner. We all have different ways of communicating but animals and other human are able to understanding because they are being more open to expanding in learning different ways of communicating with others.
Bruce Mazlish âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ is a very interesting article to me ; since it was against reality and what I used to think. Some of us might find this article unacceptable and that is exactly why he brought up the three previous mental “discontinuities” that the human race has had to overcome such as the examples of Freud and Darwinâ in order to persuade us that humans are better than the mechines. Since both of them faced a lot, trying to convince people to accept the studies they came up with. He understands that it wouldnât be an easy thing to overcome but at the same time he argued provocatively that humans and machines will soon or later have a symbiotic relationship; where they will interact with one another. Mazlish tried to examine how the ways humans relate to machines have changed because of individuals as well as events. He looked at thinkers like Descartes and how they changed our idea of how we view human nature as contrasted with animal or machine. In addition to that, I believe he wanted to also show us how modern revolution has brought humans and machines closer to one another than they have ever been. Mazlishâs proposal is that we are now crossing the Fourth Discontinuity. He indicates that humans is an integral part of machines and the other way around. He believes that it is no longer acceptable to think of one without the other.
Bruce Mazlishâs âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ describes possible ways in which we are not linked or a part of the natural world as human beings. He uses four discontinuities, each linked with a different philosopher or theorist, and then explains how, using said argument, we are actually a continuum, or part of the natural world. The first to third discontinuities talk about the earth, evolution and psychoanalysis. The fourth discontinuity which was put forth by Mazlish talks about man and machine. While some may think we are discontinuous in that machine and man are not alike, we are thinkers, and machines just do a task we built it to do, if we extend machine to the idea of tech, and language as a tech, well, we are actually continuous. It is a feedback loop, where we make and change tech, and in turn, we are changed by the technology we make. It is the same with language. We created language and language itself has changed the way we think, and in doing so, we have changed language as time progresses. We can see how some machines are built like the human mind. It goes through a process and does it over and over again. It is a routine, which arguably all humans have an established daily routine in their life. We, as humans, and technology are in a continuum, far from disconnected from each other.We are a unique species on earth that uses its resources here on earth to make more resources, or to make tools that can further our society. Language is one of them, as reading, writing and speaking is a technology in it of itself.
Bruce Mazlish âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ has a different look in the language and technology diversitized. He explores the writings of other philosophers and scientists we have studied previous to explore his claims of evolving human nature with machines. For example, he recalled Darwinâs claims of a connection between language and animals, Wadeâs claims of connection through natural and sexual selection, and Descartes, a French philosopher, who supported the theory of mind. He supports his theory with the history of tools and how they evolved as humans evolved; changed, used, thought and then created something more purposeful from it original model. Humans were using they minds, thinking and evolving everyday. A great example of this to me it the cellphone. The first model of a cell phone was as big as a cereal box and the receiver had a cord, could you imagine? As humans evolved, used their minds, and relying on machines, human existing on a continuum with technology, have created today a cell phone so small it can fit in the palm of your hand.
Summary of Bruce Mazlishâs âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ
By building on the work of Freud, Darwin, and Copernicus, Mazlish explains the fourth discontinuity as a continuum between man and machine. By taking the term âDiscontinuityâ from Jerome Bruner as an emphasis on breaks. Mazlishâs conceptualization is that humanity is continuous with technology because technology is an extension of human capability. Since technology is manufactured by humans to augment humans, a feedback loop exists between man and machine. This loop is an iterative process that humans influence and in doing so, influences humans in return.
The four discontinuities are further explained as he develops his point. The first discontinuity being that of Copernicus having demystified humans place within the universe. Starting on the argument against anthropocentrism, Copernicus documented that the heavens didnât revolve around the Earth. Rather, he argued that Earth was but one planet in a system of vast numbers of other planets, and that we revolve around the sun.
The second discontinuity was based on Darwin and his work to argue that humanity was continuous with animals. Man wasnât a privileged species, but simply a result of nature.
Mazlish added that specifically man was a âtool making animal,â according to Benjamin Franklin.
The third discontinuity was Freudâs argument that psychoanalysis endeavored to prove that man was ânot the master in his own house.â Freud made the point that our minds are a tripartite: the id, the ego, and the superego. Freud claimed that these different parts of our mind are what control us.
These themes relate to previous readings from Ongâs âTechnology Restructures Thought.â
In Bruce Mazlishâs âThe Fourth Discontinuity,â he discussed the phenomena that we have in the advancement of technology. Mazlish has adapted the concepts of Freud, Darwin, and connections of Copernicus establishing platforms to establish certain ways of thinking. One of the interesting formalities introduced in this text was the pyramid of data, information, knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom is accomplished from knowledge that we acquire over time and with this new knowledge we can gain new insights on different things.
However, Mazlish focused on something very important which is the fourth discontinuity. He believes that it is no longer a realistic approach to think of humans without the idea of having machines presents. In his writing, he believes that our brains are thinking machines and this has allowed for achievements in our artificial intelligence systems amongst other creations. There is a great correlation between the continuum of humanity and our technology.
The âfeedback loopâ suggest that humanity makes technology, and technology makes us. This content gives us a perspective of how technology has allowed us to see the world differently and approach these ideas in a more creative approach. Mazlish ideas are surrounded by the philosophical ways of thinking from the following individuals. The first individual is Copernicus and his belief of thinking resulted in believing that the earth is not the center of the universe, but rather the sun plays a pivotal role. He created a model that suggested the sun revolves around us.
Many people in the church did not want to believe his ideas because to them God situated everything on earth. Sigmund Freud, on the other hand, was studying psychoanalysis which he wanted to figure out how does our mind work subconsciously. Our consciousness and our unconsciousness is the ego that continues to play in our lives because these are things that drives us to do things where we are still in many ways in control in how we adapt to these things.
It is understood that we begin to understand that man and machines have created a thinking machine. These machines through an innovative process have advanced to a level where in ways it can mimic and possibly exceed human intelligence. Our brains have allowed us to continue to advance and flourish through other people ideas and has expanded the technology industry. This has created questions where we wonder has man created advanced machines that are now smarter than the average human? Our brain is used for the process of planning and doing problem solving, critical thinking activity. But these activities has now allowed us to do so much more than what we used to do centuries ago.
Bruce Mazlish âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ discusses the importance of technology on us and our importance on technology. Mazlish also discusses the importance of language and how it is a form of technology. He talks about four discontinuities which explains that we are part of a âcontinuumâ because of technology. 1st Discontinuity talks about humanity being seen as discontinuous, apart from, but we are continuous with the systems around us. 2nd discontinuity (revealed by Darwin) talks about humanity made continuous with animals – Discontinuity was God made us separate. The 3rd discontinuity (Freud) argued psychoanalysis was endeavoring to prove that ego made man ânot the master in his own houseâ. Lastly the 4th Discontinuity is the relationship between man and machine.
In his article Mazlish believed that we change technology and that it changes us. For example, phone companies like Apple and Samsung continuously changes the technology we use on a daily basis; weather it is the design, the different specs and features, and making the device more advanced and sufficient every year. People use their minds to create, change, and improve these innovations and in return we have these advanced, high-tech, portable computer gadgets that helps us with basically almost everything (communication, storing data and information, ordering food or cab ride, planning and scheduling events, waking us up from sleep, and giving us entertainment. We are continuous with our technology like a spectrum (we are in one end and tech. Is on the other). Another important factor Bruce Mazlish discusses is Language (in the form of reading, writing and verbally speaking) as technology. Without language we would not be able to create such technological machines that has helped us advance in so many ways. One thing to remember is that humans create tools to access our capability. Which I can highly agree on because without certain inventions, such as the computer or printer, we would not be able to properly store information that could be easily ripped apart, lost, or destroyed. For example you decide to write a novel, you can securely store it on your computer or flash drive and have less of a risk of losing it. However one very important focus was that humanity is seen as separate from technology. The continuity that Mazlish wanted us to recognize is that human beings are greater than technology. All that technology does is exert change and use over us and adds to ourselves. We can live without it but it just adds onto our lives to make it easier and more sufficient. Some argue that we cannot live without it and I believe that is the case because we have involved technology in our lives so vigorously that is has became a part of us and without it we feel incapable and lost.
âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ by Bruce Mazlish; Mazlish speaks about the studies of psychological in order to all certain motivations of historical events would take place. He discusses how as a human race, we exist on a continuous continuum. A continuum is a sequence of events that keep going and is adjacent to and not perceptible. Mazlish speaks about how we walk on this thing called âfeedback loopâ. As we progress, the technology changes, it allows us to change, and we change technology. He starts to speak about four different continuities. The first continuity is about copious which is taught by the earth which wasnât in the center of the universe. The place in this earth in which God has created us and separated us to be a part of a special plan. The second continuity is Charles Darwin; he explains how evolution works and how the human species is made from the animal decent. The third discontinuity is explained best by Sigmund Freud; he speaks about psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is endeavoring to prove and the ego; the expression goes, âHumans arenât the masters of our own house.â Lastly, the fourth discontinuity is called man and machine. As Mazlish said, âWe are now; man and machine are continuous.â
In reading Bruce Mazlish âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ its discussed the human being and its continuum in connection to technology . One of the main things that stuck with me was the concept of the feed back loop , I remember the idea in reference to another speech class and the idea fits perfectly with language and its connecting to technology . where as we as humans in our process of communications and growth we influence what becomes of our technology and as it evolves ( technology) we in return learn something from it that we can then use to influence a better version or idea . Just as the saying goes what you put out into the world you will get back in return .Even though it is said that these ideas are in the categories of the challenging humanity and how we understood it; for every idea we come to âunderstandâ theirs is a valuable contrast . For example the first discontinuity itself that stated our earth was not the center of the universe went against concepts of the church with great authority with designâs and models for further understanding and explanation. For years on the church had dominated peoples ideas of what we thought we âunderstoodâ whom wrong or right? As for Mazlishâ s forth discontinuity , the connection of man to the machine to me is undeniably understandable . We have become accustom to our machinery which has forcefully without notice interjected itself as apart of our lifestyle as a whole. There isnât much we could do out of the norm without our new assistant addition (the machine). What will challenge that concept in the future ? Iâm sure this isnât the end of eras of explosive ideas and concepts that dig deeper into whom we are as being and this reading defiantly peeked my interest in so.
Bruce Mazlish “The fourth Discontinuity” talked about how people and technology are getting closer to each other more every day, and that we’re at some point where separate human and machines is just going to be impossible because machines are part of us, just like language is. We create machines for a purpose but essentially that purpose cause us to change one way or another which make us continuous in a way. Bruce go further to talked about how language communication is more than just talking by the philosopher Rene Descartes proposal of dualism theory of mind which is us using our senses, past memories, imaginations and desires to interact with people. He talks about Darwinism which is the theory of the evolution of species by natural selection advanced. Nicolas Wade also talk about Darwinism to explain how animal communicate between them in their own ways. Bruce uses Rene Descartes dualism theory of mind to establish the relation between people and animals. Animals their sense of touch to communicate their being love or simply hungry, their sense of smell to recognize people. Bruce go further to show that people and technology are getting closer to each other more every day, and that at some point separate human and machines is just going to be impossible because machines will become a part of us. As we evolved as humans, using our minds, and relying on machines, we are existing on a continuum with technology. Eventually we become one with machines that we create and get inspired by those same machines to create more because of the effect they have on us.
Bruce Mazlish has pioneered in the field of psychohistory which is basically the psychology with the study of history. He wrote the book technology and culture which was published in 1967. The Fourth Discontinuity tends to talk about the importance of technology and technologies influence on us. He introduces his four discontinuities.The continuity between humanity and our technology. Mazlish says that humanity makes technology and technology makes us.The first continuity is from Copernicus, âit’s taught that our earth wasnât the center of our universe. The second discontinuity is from Charles Darwin. He revealed how humanity is like the animal kingdom. Sigmund Freudâs third continuity argued that psychoanalysis was endeavoring to prove to all that he must stay content to what’s going on unconsciously in his mind. Signing Freud was an austrian neurologists and the founder of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is defined as a set of theories and therapeutic techniques related to the study of the unconscious mind. Last but not least the last discontinuity according to Mazlish is between man and machine. Man’s pride and refusal to acknowledge discontinuity. Mazlish mentions that human beings recreate and reproduce technology. And also that all minds are essentially the same. We were also taught about the human mind being a tripartite. The human mind is separated into three parts the ID which is based on animal instincts, the Superego is the highest level in the mind which is based on rules, laws constrictions to our place in human society. The last part of the mind is Ego can be defined as a conscious sense of self. The Ego emerges from battle between the Superego and the ID.
Mazlish states that there have been four landmarks on human history that have impacted humansâ views and he say that the fourth related to technology. The article has explained when each landmark has happened and how they influenced humans. These landmarks are called discontinuity because humans had thoughts of a certain norm but because of the landmark that has been brought out, it has disrupted what the norm was and then changes what the norm is. The first discontinuity was Copernicus which he says that the earth is not the center of the world but the sun was and so it has humansâ views on the earth and the universe. The second discontinuity was Darwin which says that humans are part of the animal kingdom. Animals evolved and that proves that humans also evolved just the same. The third discontinuity is Fred; his psychoanalysis which all humans are not one mind, but it has three parts. The ID which is the basic animal instinct, the superego is the norm of society that restricts one’s behavior, and the ego is how we think, act, and the result of the fight of the ID and superego. All these parts reside within one’s unconscious mind. The norm has thought that humans were only one but Fred says that it is not just our conscious mind, but the unconscious mind also needs to be considered. Fred has brought the human and self together. Finally, the fourth is Mazlish, himself, who says that humans and the machine are one. We, humans, look at technology with distrust and although we use them daily we still keep our distance. But the truth is that humans and technology are needed because technology is an extension for humans to be better.
In Bruce Mazlish âThe Fourth Discontinuityâ article he talks about his opinions on language and technology. He uses philosophy to show us what he means. He wants us to know that world is just more than language and technology. He talks about using âDarwinismâ to help some of his points. Darwinism is the theory of the evolution of species by natural selection. He uses a couple of other philosophers theories to help with his own. For example he usesâ Rene Descartes and Charles Darwinâ. Rene Descartes was a French philosopher that came up with âDualismâ which is the theory of mind. The âtheory of mindâ is to explain mental activities such as sensation, memory, or imagination, one must hypothesize how they result from interaction between the environment, the senses, and the processing of the brain. Bruce is comparing this language to humans and animals. Animals uses their senses differently than we do. They use it to find they owners, we can call who were looking for they cannot. We all have different ways of communicating and understanding communication as well. Some people are open to learning other forms of communication especially. That’s why they are okay with learning about how animals communicate. Also learning how others just communicate in general.
Bruce Mazlish,â The Fourth Discontinuityâ, exhibits how humanity is continuous with its use of technology. Mazlish believes that technology is created by a feedback loop; we as humans change technology, technology changes us and the cycle continues. He believes that humans and technology are apart of a system that now evolved to the point that certain technologies (digital technologies) are able to mimic us as humans with the capacity of thought, and decision making.
Bruce Mazlish,â The Fourth Discontinuityâ, exhibits how humanity is continuous with its use of technology. Mazlish believes that technology is created by a feedback loop; we as humans change technology, technology changes us and the cycle continues. He believes that humans and technology are apart of a system that now evolved to the point that certain technologies (digital technologies) are able to mimic us as humans with the capacity of thought, and decision making.